Mill Creek and Illinois Live Steamers 50th meets.

Although I had not planned any more trips abroad in
2017 the temptation of two large meets on back to back weekends was too
much to ignore.. As it turned out this became one of the best trips i have
done to the states visiting 4 clubs and seeing two 2-8-4 full size steam
locomotives in action.

So it just so happened that theIllinois live steamers and the Mill Creek Central Railroad
were both having anniversary meetings in August
2017. I had initially booked my flights for the Illinois meet then
Jim Kreider told me that the mill creek event was on the week before. So I
changed my flights an added a week to the two already booked. I flew out
on the Wednesday to be there for the long weekend meeting and first off
was a bit of a drive from Chicago to Coshocton for the Mill Creek event.

Mike Venesia on the right owner of one of the
Northern and Paul Keiser on the lead engine. Paul built both engines.

Two views of the busy part of the outside steaming
bays with the station in the background

This reminds me of my flirtation with Klamath
Machine works who were going to offer castings for this locomotive , of
course it never happened.

Wayne Godshall of custom machining fame with what
was the first of Jim Kreiders baby's. Built almost concurrent with Jim
producing castings the owner chose to fabricate some parts to speed up the
build. Wayne is now detailing the locomotive for its new owner.

Another examples of Wayne's work, I thought Bruno
was the king of detail but this is on a par with that.

A superb CNC punched and folded tender for a C&O
Kanawha build by Jeffry Duarte at locoparts.

There were many more locomotives on show but this
was a superb meet where there were plenty of large main line steamers on
show. I now had the best part of the week to go before the nest visit
which was back the other side of Chicago.

So I decided to go on a bit of a full size safari
to a couple of locomotives both in the throws of being overhauled with a
view to running again.

While planning the logistics of the trip I found
out the Fort Wayne
Railroad Historical Society were having an open weekend
at their depot. Not too far from the Mill Creek meet i decided this was an
opportunity not to be missed. By coincidence the Berkshire I am completing
is a model of 765. So i took the Friday off from the meet and motored down
to their depot.

And why not !

After that blast it was back to Mill Creek and then I packed up for the
trip south

So first was a drive down to Kentucky and the Kentucky Steam
Heritage Corporation. custodians of Kanawha 2716. For
some reason the C&O did not name their 2-8-4's Berkshires. I met Joe
Nugent there who gave me a the full tour of this locomotive.

2716 at the Kentucky railway museum.

Joe explained the plans they have for the
locomotive which crucially in the states has a line identified where it
will be able to run. There is a strong business plan for the locomotive
restoration. With the first job on the list to move it undercover for the
majority of the restoration to begin. A lot of work has already been done
on the appliances and boiler to establish its condition.

2716 has already had a second life in preservation
and so is in very good condition prior to being parked up for static
display. Looing round the locomotive you were immediately struck by what
good condition it is in .

Booster

2716 was fitted with a trailing truck booster to
provide additional tractive effort when starting heavy trains. Joe
explained once they got to about 15mph it was shut off as it was not very
efficient and a steam eater.

Again this operation seemed to be well organized
with a again access to a line it will be able to run on. This locomotive
was also in relatively good condition for its age and was also going light
refurbishment on site. This work was being done to facilitate a move to a
covered workshop where the bulk of the work will be undertaken.

Cab drivers side, the fire door is open to allow
access for NDT and welding work to be done.

Interestingly this locomotive is fitted with a
precision screw reverser not the normal bar type. Still acting on a
powered reverser. In later life it had been fitted with a small airmotor
and operating valve next to the wheel to power operate the screw and ease
the drivers work load.

It was now time to head back north for the Illinois
live steamers meet an time to put a few more miles on the rental.

This was a slightly number of locomotives at this
meet, but what impressed was the ground level 4.75 gauge track which was
extensive and a bit of a drivers challenge. but that did not stop
engineers running some very long trains.

The steaming bays and in the background loco
storage.

Superb 1" scale Pacific

Another 1" scale masterpiece D&M this time.

Imported and converted to 7.5" gauge many years ago
and still running like a watch

Superb NYC Hudson.

Again by a very happy coincidence i also found out
prior to departure that another Berkshire would be running while i was in
the states. But the icing on this cake was it was running a fare
paying schedule. So i got myself booked up for a ride in the caboose
leaving early on the Sunday missing out on the last day of the Illinois
meet.

The Steam Railroading Institute would be running
excursions with the Pere Marquette 1225 another Berkshire at the Howell
Melon festival.

I cannot believe on the one trip to the states I was able to see two Berkshire locomotives in steam and also to get to ride
behind one. I think i should have put the lottery on that week.

So that was two weeks of the trip done, and what to
do next. I had arranged to meet up with an old friend who lived in
PA. But first I had heard good things about the Canadian Railway Museum in
Montreal. I had also met up with Howard Gorin who told me his clubs fall
meet was on the next weekend so I decided to drop in there for a couple of
days.

I had not quite bargained for just how French
the French Canadians were or how expensive Montreal was so once I
had been to the museum high tailed it back to the states.

Dominion of Canada nicely refurbished by the
National Railway Museum here in the UK

Royal Hudson

I need to buy a better camera for museums they
always seem to be a challenge for lighting these days. Now it was
time to head South again over the border, not without its drama's as The
American agents were a bit troubled by my passport full of stamps to
questionable Middle eastern countries I had been too back in the day for
work.

Next stop was a drive towards Boston and the Waushakum live
steamers, Howards home club. I was reliably
informed this is pronounced Wa-shake-um, the track was in a very wooded
area and a pleasure to ride round. Not so easy to find mind but Google and
the sat-nav did the business.

These things are about as common as teeth.

I stopped at the meet until Saturday afternoon then
headed of toward Philadelphia. My friend lives not that far from the Pennsylvania live
steamers, so i had arranged to meet Dave Sclavi of
Trainman fame who was going to get 1361 out for us to run on the Sunday.

Dave getting 1361 ready for the track.

A superb C&O Pacific

The second fabulous NYC Hudson of the trip.

Well that was it I spent a couple of days with my
mate in Wayne, then made a slow drive back to Chicago and the evening
flight home. This has got to have been one of the best American Holidays i
have been on for visiting tracks with something happening. But the icing
on the cake was the two Berkshires in living breathing colour.

Best ride in the BA fleet plenty of room and still
queen of the sky's, far better than being shoehorned in an A380.